EVENING SNAPSHOT - Asia Markets Summary

CRUDE: June WTI $91.30/bbl, up 27 cents/bbl; June BRENT $100.62/bbl, up 67 cents/bblCrude futures made further gains in Asian afternoon trade. Buyers returned to the market following sharp price falls overnight after the release of weak economic data from both the US and China – the world’s leading oil consumers.

BENZENE: $1,285-1,287/tonne FOB Korea, up $2/tonne at the low endFour July parcels were sealed at $1,278-1,280/tonne FOB Korea in the afternoon session, while the intermonth spread between June and July was discussed at a backwardation of $7-8/tonne.

TOLUENE: $1,120-1,140/tonne FOB Korea, down $10/tonne at the low endOffers were limited in the afternoon session, with bids at $1,115-1,120/tonne FOB Korea for second-half May loading, and at $1,140-1,141/tonne FOB Korea for July parcels.

ETHYLENE: $1,170-1,190/tonne CFR NE Asia, stableSelected buying interest was heard from China for second-half May arrival, with buying interest maintained at the high-$1,100/tonne CFR NE Asia levels. However, some end-users had just started negotiations after returning from the Labour Day holiday. No deals were located.